Compactor

ABSTRACT

A compactor is disclosed which has a seat as the top member and can be used as a stool. Beneath the seat is a hollow plunger, and the main support member which is a tubular element having a foot permitting the same to sit on the floor. The plunger is hollow, and the seat is removable, providing additional storage space for bottles, extra bags, and the like. A single piece combination bag retainer and seat support press fittingly is engaged on the top portion of the tubular support. A rim surrounds the upper end of the tubular portion beneath the bag retainer, and contains a hanger from which the plunger may be suspended while the bag is being filled. Also hand hold means for carrying the entire assembled unit are provided on the same rim.

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mm U IF 1 1] 2 5 55 i [l the same to sit on the floor. The plunger is hollow, and the seat is removable, providing additional storage space for bottles, extra bags, and the like. A single piece combination bag retainer and seat su [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS pport press fittingly is engaged on the top portion of the tubular support. A rim surrounds the upper end of the tubular Popei.,..........

portion beneath the bag retainer, and contains a Bloomfield...

hanger from which the plunger may be suspended while the bag is being filled. Also hand hold means for Jackson Hirsch....... 973 Bradbury...........,........i

carrying the entire assembled unit: are provided on the same rim.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures ilihnl ur mnhu l ll .I ilnnivl i lvnnmwnfi PATENTEUFEB 41% 3,863,563

SHEET 10? 4 PATENTEDFEB 41% 3,863,568

SHEET 30F 4 PATENTED FEB 4IH75 saw u. or 4 FIG.9

FIG. I3

COM PACTOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The invention disclosed and described herein is an improvement on the invention described in a patent application entitled Waste Container and Packer"filed Mar. 6, I972, Ser. No. 232,045 of Roy R. Bradbury, II now US. Pat. No. 3,744,409.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The field of the invention is that of a compactor which is a combination seat, waste container, and packer. The weight of the person sitting on the seat compacts the refuse contained in the lower container by means of a plunger extending downwardly from the seat portion.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art patents are exemplified by US. Pat. Nos. 960,028 and 2,465,839. Neither of these patents discloses a refuse packer which can be used as a stool. The above recited patent application Ser. No. 232,045 discloses a stool having a seat at the top, a plunger therebeneath, and a receptacle support in which refuse is compacted. The subject application, however, does not provide for a removable seat on the stool thereby exposing the interior portion of the plunger for additional storage. Also means for supporting the plunger while filling the refuse collector, and means for conveniently carrying the unit are not disclosed. A convenient means for ease of removal of the stool seat is not disclosed. All of these features absent from the prior art are present in the applicants device, and they solve numerous problems of maximizing space, convenience in use, and yet all the advantages are consistent with economical manufacture.

SUMMARY The invention contemplates a compactor which is a stool having a seat top with a depending plunger, the plunger being hollow and access gained to the same by removably securing the seat to the plunger, the removable means being actuated by rotating a strap provided at a mid portion of the seat. A rim at the upper portion surrounding the tubular waste container also includes a hand hold for lifting the entire unit. A single piece combination bag retainer, seat support, and plunger hanger fits around the upper end ofthe tubular support and holds a bag in place in the inner portion of the chamber for filling.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a compactor which is also an attractive stool which can be used in the. kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, garage, motor homes, and mobile homes, where space is at a premium and paper disposal problems plague the user.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compactor in which all of the interior space is effectively utilized for storage, and is proportioned and oriented to segregate crushable waste from noncrushable waste such as bottles.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide convenient means for carrying the unit, and further convenient means for storing the plunger in hooked relationship to the tubular container for use when filling the refuse portion of the tubular support member, and also for use in filling the plunger with non-crushable disposable items.

Yet another object of the present invention looks to the provision of a strap member and convenient bayonet-type lock for the seat to the plunger thereby permitting the user to quickly remove and replace the seat in order to store bottles, or provide access for additional plastic bags which may be used within the plunger.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages. of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the compactor of the present invention in its assembled form.

FIG. 2 is a'perspective view of the compactor in the same scale as FIG. 1 illustrating the seat being removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded and partially diagrammatic view illustrating the removal of the plunger, and showing in phantom lines the alternative storage position for the plunger.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view ofthe support portion of the compactor showing the sequential relationship between the support, the refuse bag, and the bag retainer and seat support.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view ofthe compactor taken along section lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 illustrating the compactor with the refuse compacted to the full condition and showing the interior of the plunger housing empty bottles.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view ofthe compactor taken along section lines 6-6 of FIG. 4 and showing the decorator panel, handle, and the compacted refuse at the point where the plunger reaches its maximum effectiveness and bag removal is indicated.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partially broken and sectioned view of the plunger being hooked on the plunger holder of the retainer as shown in phantom lines on FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partially sectioned view taken along section line 8-8 of FIG. 6 illustrating the vent slots at the bottom of the support.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the seat.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the plunger with the seat removed.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged broken sectional taken along section line l1-Il of FIG. 10 illustrating the locking relationship between the seat and the upper portion of the plunger.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the retainer.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the support.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. I of the drawings, it will be seen that the compactor 10 includes a. seat 12 at its upper portion secured to a plunger II which sits atop a support 14 secured against toppling by means of the foot 15 flared out at the lower portion of the support 14. A strap 18 is provided at the upper portion of the seat 12 for removing the plunger and also to assist in removing the seat to expose the interior portion of the plunger 11 which can be used for storing bags, refuse, and the like. An attractive decorator panel 16 is provided along opposed faces of the support 14 and is recessed slightly into those faces. At the upper portion of the decorator panel 16, provision is made for a hand hold 30, on opposite sides of the support 14, which permitsthe user to pick up the entire compactor and move the same to different locations in the room.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the seat 12, by holding the strap 18, may be removed from the upper portion of the plunger where it is locked into the key hole 45 (as will be described in detail hereinafter). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the plunger ll is raised out of the support 14 by means of holding the strap 18, and may be hung on the plunger holder 21 of the bag retainer as illustrated in phantom lines. Additionally. the seat 12 may be removed from the plunger 14 and bottles or other solid refuse taken out of the interior portion of the plunger while the same is mounted on the side of the plunger holder 21.

The relationship between the retainer 20 and the refuse bag is illustrated in FIG. 4. There it will be seen that a retainer support extends upwardly from the support member 14. The retainer 20, in turn, is provided along the outer face ofthe retainer support 22. Further to be observed in FIG. 5 is the positioning of the bottles 29-inside the plunger 11 and beneath the seat 12. The plunger interior 28, in a commercial version, will hold approximately 12 beverage bottles. In addition, of course, if the plunger interior 28 is not entirely full of bottles 29 or other solid refuse, space may be provided for extra refuse bags 25, or other materials useful in connection with the compacting of waste or trash.

The hand grip 30 is illustrated at the upper portion of FIG. 6 where it will be seen that it is a flat member terminating in an outer hand grip rib 31, and flanked by hand grip sidewalls 32. The hand grip 30 is at the upper portion of the decorator panel 16, and thus is hidden from view, but nonetheless well positioned so that the hand can be wrapped around the seat skirt 24 with the fingers engaging the underside ofthe hand grip 30, and supported against dislodgement by means of the hand grip rib 31.

The lower portion of the support 14 is provided with a bottom as noted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom being reinforced by reinforcing ribs to transfer the weight and pressure of the plunger against the refuse 19 to the floor therebeneath. Additionally, to assist in positioning the bag 25 within the support 14, a plurality of vents 38 are provided at the intersection between the bottom 35 and the sidewalls of the support 14. Such vents typically are illustrated in FlG. 8, and as noted in FlG. l3, eight such vents 38 are provided.

FIG. 7 illustrates again how the seat skirt 24 of the plunger 11 coacts with the plunger holder 21 ofthe bag retainer 20 to hold the same in the cocked position against the support 14 as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 3. It will be further observed that a plunger support 23 is provided at the upper edge of the flared-out portion of the retainer 20 which, when the load is provided by the plunger 11, causes the lower depending skirt 27 of the retainer 20 to firmly engage the plunger support 23 portion of the support 14.

The detailed configuration ofthe plunger 11 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 where it will be seen that the plunger bottom 40 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed ribs 41, and the upper portion is provided with a key hole type slot 45 in a seat lock guide 48 within the seat rim 42 of the upper portion of the plunger ll. More particularly, in FIG. ll it will be seen how the seat lock 46 which is shown as a headed screw or rivet is engaged by means firstly of the seat lock guide 48, and then the key hold 45 so that the seat 12 fits within the seat rim 42 of the plunger top. The seat lock 46 additionally serves to secure the underneath portion of the strap 18 to the seat 12.

In review it will be seen that a compactor 10 has been shown having a plunger ll and removable seat 12, the latter providing an opening to the plunger interior 28 where bottles and other non-crushable refuse may be stored. A bag retainer 20 fits atop the support 14 and holds a refuse bag 25 in place for filling and compressing. The bag retainer further has a plunger holder 21 which will support the plunger While the user is filling the bag 25 with uncompressed refuse. In addition, to facilitate handling, a pair of opposed hand grips 30 are provided at the upper portion of a decorator panel 16 so that the entire unit can be easily grasped and moved.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages and equivalents of a compactor as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A compactor comprising, in combination,

a plunger member being hollow and having means at the upper end portion thereof for engaging a seat,

a seat proportioned for covering the upper end of said plunger and having means for removable engagement with said plunger, thereby exposing the hollow portion of the plunger,

said means for removable engagement including a bayonet-type lock means for removably locking said seat with said plunger member,

a tubular support member having a foot portion for resting on the floor and defining a hollow interior for collecting and compacting refuse, and whereby paper goods and other readily compressible refuse may be stored and compacted in the interior of the tubular member by the action of the plunger assisted by the weight of a person sitting on the seat, and by removing the seat portion of the plunger, access is had for the storage of bottles and other non-compressible refuse.

2. In the compactor of claim 1,

said means for engaging the seat removably to the plunger comprising a pair of lugs on the seat, and a pair of key hole slots in the upper portion of the plunger, thereby to form a bayonet-type lock for removably engaging said seat with said plunger member.

3. In the compactor of claim 2,

a strap overlying the seat portion in close relationship therewith to provide a hand hold for twisting the seat to remove the same from the plunger.

4. In the compactor of claim 1,

a single piece combination bag retainer and seat support for securing a bag to the upper end portion of the tubular member.

5. In the compactor of claim 4,

air vent means at the lower portion of the support member in open communication with the exterior, whereby the user is assisted in pressing the bag in place for use inside the tubular receptacle by venting the displaced air in the support.

6. In the compactor of claim 1,

an upstanding plunger holder on the bag retainer,

and,

21 depending skirt surrounding the periphery of the upper portion of the plunger, whereby upon removal of the plunger from the support. the same can be stored by the hanging relationship between the depending skirt of the plunger and the plunger holder on the bag retainer.

7. In the compactor of claim I,

a pair of opposed hand holds provided beneath the upper portion of the support member comprising a pair of flats in opposed mid positions on the underneath portion of said upper portion whereby the entire unit can be lifted by the user and transported.

8. In the compactor of claim 6,

a pair of opposed decorator panels being recessed planar surfaces vertically extending from adjacent the foot of the support member to the upper end of the upper portion ofthe support member, whereby wallpaper and other decor may be positioned in such decorator panels for matching the same with the room in which the unit is used.

9. In the compactor of claim 8,

said hand holds being positioned at the upper portion of said decorator panels.

10. In the Compactor of claim 1,

a pair of opposed decorator panels being recessed planar surfaces vertically extending from adjacent the foot of the support member to the upper end of the upper portion of the support member, whereby wallpaper and other decor may be positioned in such decorator panels for matching the same with the room in which the unit is used.

l i l 

1. A compactor comprising, in combination, a plunger member being hollow and having means at the upper end portion thereof for engaging a seat, a seat proportioned for covering the upper end of said plunger and having means for removable engagement with said plunger, thereby exposing the hollow portion of the plunger, said means for removable engagement including a bayonet-type lock means for removably locking said seat with said plunger member, a tubular support member having a foot portion for resting on the floor and defining a hollow interior for collecting and compacting refuse, and whereby paper goods and other readily compressible refuse may be stored and compacted in the interior of the tubular member by the action of the plunger assisted by the weight of a person sitting on the seat, and by removing the seat portion of the plunger, access is had for the storage of bottles and other non-compressible refuse.
 2. In the compactor of claim 1, said means for engaging the seat removably to the plunger comprising a pair of lugs on the seat, and a pair of key hole slots in the upper portion of the plunger, thereby to form a bayonet-type lock for removably engaging said seat with said plunger member.
 3. In the compactor of claim 2, a strap overlying the seat portion in close relationship therewith to provide a hand hold for twisting the seat to remove the same from the plunger.
 4. In the compactor of claim 1, a single piece combination bag retainer and seat support for securing a bag to the upper end portion of the tubular member.
 5. In the compactor of claim 4, air vent means at the lower portion of the support member in open communication with the exterior, whereby the user is assisted in pressing the bag in place for use inside the tubular receptacle by venting the displaced air in the support.
 6. In the compactor of claim 1, an upstanding plunger holder on the bag retainer, and, a depending skirt surrounding the periphery of the upper portion of the plunger, whereby upon removal of the plunger from the support, the same can be stored by the hanging relationship between the depending skirt of the plunger and the plunger holder on the bag retainer.
 7. In the compactor of claim 1, a pair of opposed hand holds provided beneath the upper portion of the support member comprising a pair of flats in opposed mid positions on the underneath portion of said upper portion whereby the entire unit can be lifted by the user and transported.
 8. In the compactor of claim 6, a pair of opposed decorator panels being recessed planar surfaces vertically extending from adjacent the foot of the support member to the upper end of the upper portion of the support member, whereby wallpaper and other decor may be positioned in such decorator panels for matching the same with the room in which the unit is used.
 9. In the compactor of claim 8, said hand holds being positioned at the upper portion of said decorator panels.
 10. In tHe compactor of claim 1, a pair of opposed decorator panels being recessed planar surfaces vertically extending from adjacent the foot of the support member to the upper end of the upper portion of the support member, whereby wallpaper and other decor may be positioned in such decorator panels for matching the same with the room in which the unit is used. 